Offset stabilizer

ABSTRACT

An archery bow includes a riser having an offset riser portion, a bowstring, and a stabilizer mount. The riser defines a vertical center plane that divides the handle portion into right and left sides when the bow is positioned upright and ready for use. The bowstring extends between opposing ends of the handle portion. The stabilizer mount is mounted to the offset riser portion so that the stabilizer is offset laterally and vertically from the handgrip and vertical center plane, respectively, of the archery bow to compensate for archery accessories attached to the bow.

BACKGROUND

When an arrow is shot from an archery bow, the bow moves in response tothe forces generated upon release of the bowstring. In addition, the bowabsorbs the energy not imparted to the arrow, which causes the bow tovibrate. Movement and vibration of the bow have a direct impact onshooting accuracy. A bow stabilizer device may be attached to the bow tobalance the bow and dampen vibrations in the bow to minimizeunintentional bow movement when shooting. One function of a bowstabilizer is to provide a counterweight that helps stabilize andmaintain the bow in an upright or vertically oriented position duringlaunching of the arrow.

One conventional type of bow stabilizer is a rod with a circularcross-section. Rod stabilizers may use a rod alone or use a system ofmovable weights along the rod length. Some rod stabilizers include aplurality of rods arranged radially spaced from each other. Rodstabilizers that include only a rod may act as both a dampener and aweight, wherein the dampener absorbs and may transfer the energy toanother “weight” portion of the rod. In a system that includes a rod andseparate weights, the rod may transfer the energy of the bow to theweights.

Stabilizers are typically constructed to extend in a forward directionfrom the bow when the bow is oriented in an upright, shooting position.Stabilizers are usually mounted on the bow at a location on the riserand extend straight away from the riser. Stabilizers are typicallyaligned with a center line or center plane of the bow, with reference tothe riser, when the bow is held upright. The balance and weight of thebow are affected, however, by accessories that are commonly mounted to abow, including a quiver full of arrows, a cable guard, dampeners, sightcomponents, etc. The added accessories often change the balance of thebow and may affect performance of the bow. Some prior stabilizers arepositioned to offset the weight of the added accessories by utilizing anextension arm from which the stabilizer extends.

A need exists, therefore, for a stabilizer that accounts and compensatesfor the weight imbalance of an archery bow and the attached accessories.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an archery bow thatincludes a riser, a bowstring, and a stabilizer mount. The riser definesa vertical center plane that divides the handle portion into right andleft sides when the archery bow is positioned upright and ready for use.The bowstring extends between opposing ends of the handle portion. Theriser includes an offset section to which a stabilizer may be mounted ina position that is offset from the vertical center plane.

The vertical center plane may be a weighted center plane that dividesthe riser into equal weight right and left sides when the archery bow ispositioned upright. The riser may include a handgrip, and the offsetriser section may be provided vertically below handgrip and laterallyoffset the vertical center plane of the riser. A stabilizer mount may beconnected to a side surface of the handle portion. The riser may becoupled to first and second limbs. The limbs may be mounted to opposingfree ends of the riser. The archery bow may include a stabilizer securedto the stabilizer mount, mounted in turn to the offset riser portion,and at least one accessory supported by the riser portion, wherein thestabilizer is mounted and configured to at least partially offset animbalance in the archery bow created by the at least one accessory.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an archery bow thatincludes a riser, limbs extending from the riser, at least one cablemember extending between the limbs, and a stabilizer extending from theriser. The stabilizer is mounted to an offset riser section which isoffset laterally from a vertical weighted centerline of the archery bowwhen the archery bow is positioned upright and ready for use.

The weighted centerline may be aligned with a plane extending throughthe bowstring, limbs and riser. The riser may include left and rightside surfaces when the archery bow is positioned upright, and thestabilizer is mounted to one of the left and right side surfaces of theoffset riser portion. The stabilizer extends away from the at least onecable. The archery bow may also include a stabilizer mount connected tothe offset riser portion, which is configured to support the stabilizer.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to an archery bowstabilizer assembly that includes a stabilizer mount and a stabilizer.The stabilizer mount is configured for attachment to a side surface ofan offset section of an archery bow riser. The offset section is offsetfrom a vertical center plane of the archery bow when the archery bow ispositioned upright and ready for use. The stabilizer is releasablymounted to the stabilizer mount at the offset riser section.

The stabilizer may be configured to offset weight imbalances in thearchery bow. The stabilizer mount may be configured for attachment tothe archery bow riser with a plurality of fasteners. The stabilizermount may include a threaded bore sized to receive a threaded shank ofthe stabilizer.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method ofstabilizing an archery bow. The method includes providing an archery bowhaving a riser with an offset riser section and a stabilizer, andmounting the stabilizer to the offset riser section of the archery bowsuch that the stabilizer is laterally offset from a vertical weightedcenter plane when the archery bow is in an upright position ready foruse with the stabilizer extending in a forward direction. The stabilizerstabilizes the archery bow during use.

The method may also include providing at least one accessory andmounting the at least one accessory to the archery bow, wherein thestabilizer compensates for at least some imbalances in the archery bowimposed by the at least one accessory. The archery bow may include ariser, limbs mounted to the riser, and a bowstring extending between thelimbs, and the center plane extends through the riser, limbs andbowstring. The archery bow may include a riser having a handgrip, andthe center plane extends through the handgrip. Mounting the stabilizermay include connecting the stabilizer to a right side surface or a leftside surface of the archery bow when the archery bow is in an uprightposition ready for use.

The foregoing and other features, utilities, and advantages of thesubject matter described herein will be apparent from the following moreparticular description of certain embodiments as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an archery bow having an offsetstabilizer in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a partial exploded perspective view of the archery bow ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the archery bow of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the archery bow of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows another perspective view of the archery bow of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows another front view of the archery bow of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to archery bows generally, and morespecifically relates to stabilizer features for use with archery bows.Bow stabilizers are commonly used to help stabilize the archery bowduring use. Bow stabilizers are typically mounted to a handle portion(e.g., a riser) of the archery bow and extend in a forward directionaway from the bowstring. Bow stabilizers may help offset forces oractions that occur when launching an arrow from the archery bow. Forexample, the stabilizer may be used to offset tilting, twisting, ortorsion forces when shooting an arrow from the archery bow.

An example stabilizer in accordance with the present disclosure ismounted to the riser at an offset riser section that is offset from asymmetry plane or a weighted center plane of the archery bow. A symmetryplane typically extends through the bowstring and centrally through ahandgrip of the handle portion and divides the archery bow into left andright sides. A weighted center plane is a vertical plane extendingthrough the bowstring and riser to divide the archery bow into left andright sides of equal weight. Typically, an archery bow withoutaccessories mounted thereto has the symmetric center plane aligned withthe weighted center plane so that the archery bow remains in an uprightposition ready for use when the operator holds the handgrip of thehandle portion. In other arrangements, the archery bow with some keyaccessories such as the bow sight mounted thereto has the symmetriccenter plane aligned with the weighted center plane, and the addition offurther accessories creates imbalances in the archery bow.

Mounting accessories to the archery bow may create imbalances that tendto create torsion forces and tilt or torque the archery bow when anarrow is launched. The offset riser portion allows the stabilizer to bepositioned on the archery bow at an offset location to offset orcounterbalance at least some of the forces imposed by the mountedaccessories that would otherwise create imbalances in the archery bow.The offset riser portion eliminates the need to have an extension arm,which may extend downwardly and laterally relative to the handgrip ofthe bow, to which a stabilizer is mounted. In one example, the offsetstabilizer is mounted to a side surface of the offset riser section ofthe archery bow. The offset stabilizer may be offset laterally from atleast one of a weighted center plane and a symmetric center plane of thearchery bow.

Archery bow stabilizers disclosed herein may include a stabilizer mountthat is connected directly to the riser of the archery bow, and astabilizer that is removably mounted to the stabilizer mount. Thestabilizer mount may be configured to position the stabilizer at variousoffset positions relative to at least one of the symmetric center planeand weighted center plane of the archery bow. Typically, the stabilizeris mounted at a location vertically below a handgrip of the riser of thearchery bow when the archery bow is in an upright position ready foruse.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example archery bow 10 is shown anddescribed. The archery bow 10 includes a riser 12, first and secondlimbs 14, 16 mounted to the riser 12, first and second cams 18, 20supported on the first and second limbs 14, 16, respectively, a pair ofcables 22, 24 extending between the first and second cams 18, 20, and abowstring 26 also extending between the first and second cams 18, 20.The archery bow 10 is typically operated by a user grasping the riser 12about a handgrip 44 with one hand (e.g., the left hand) and pulling ordrawing the bowstring 26 in a rearward direction away from the riser 12with an opposite hand (i.e., the right hand).

The archery bow 10 may include a number of accessories mounted thereto.For example, the archery bow 10 may include a stabilizer assembly 28, aplurality of dampeners 30, a cable guard 32, a bowstring silencer 34,and a quiver 36. At least some of the accessories (e.g., the dampeners30 and bowstring silencer 34) may be aligned with the symmetric centerplane (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Others of the accessories (e.g., the cableguard 32 and quiver 36) may be offset from the symmetric center plane(see FIG. 4). The offset position of the cable guard 32 and quiver 36from a symmetric vertical center plane P₁ and vertically above ahorizontal symmetric center plane P₄ (see FIG. 6) may create a staticimbalance in the archery bow 10, such as a rotational force about arotation axis A.

The rotation axis A (i.e., the axis about which the bow rotates during ashot as a result of bow torque) may extend through the riser 12 alongthe hand grip 44 (e.g., when the hand grip 44 abuts against a top of theuser's hand). The position of rotation axis A in the figures isapproximate and may vary depending on a number of factors such asvarious features of the riser 12, the configuration of the hand grip 44,how the shooter grips the bow, etc.

The stabilizer assembly 28 may include an offset or staggered risersection 27 to allow a stabilizer to be mounted in an offset mannerwithout an extension arm or other structure. The offset riser portion 27allows the stabilizer to be mounted laterally offset in an oppositedirection relative to the other offset accessories (e.g., the cableguard 32 and quiver 36). The offset riser portion 27 may include astabilizer mounting aperture 29. The stabilizer assembly 28 may beoffset a distance H (see FIG. 3) in a vertical direction from therotation axis A. The stabilizer assembly 28 may be offset a distance W(see FIG. 3) in a lateral direction from the symmetric plane P₁ (seeFIGS. 5-6). The offset position of the offset riser section 27 andcorresponding stabilizer assembly 28 may help counterbalance some of thedestabilizing forces imposed by the offset positioning of other of theaccessories.

The offset riser section 27 may include any portion of the riser wherethe stabilizer is directly connected at a location that is offset fromat least one of the weighted and geometric centerlines of the riser 12.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the riser 12 includes first and secondlimb connection members 40, 42, a handgrip 44, left and right sidesurfaces 46, 48, a front surface 50, and a stabilizer recess 52. Thefirst and second limbs 14, 16 may be mounted to the riser 12 at thefirst and second limb connection members 40, 42, respectively. Thehandgrip 44 may help define a location of symmetry for the archery bow10. For example, the symmetric center plane P₁ may pass centrallythrough the handgrip 44. Further, the rotation axis A may extend throughthe handgrip 44 (see FIG. 3).

The stabilizer recess 52 may extend at least partially onto at least oneof the left, right, and/or front surfaces 46, 48, 50 (see FIG. 2). Thestabilizer assembly 28 may be connected along the left side surface 46(see FIGS. 2 and 3) and directly to the offset riser section 27. Otherarrangements are possible for mounting the stabilizer assembly 28including, for example, mounting within portions of the stabilizerrecess 52 that extend along the right side surface 48 and the frontsurface 50.

The stabilizer assembly 28 may include a stabilizer mount 60, aplurality of fasteners 62 used to secure the stabilizer mount 60 to theoffset riser section 27 of the riser 12, and a stabilizer 64 that isremovably mounted to the stabilizer mount 60. The stabilizer mount 60may include a threaded bore 66 sized to receive a threaded shaft 70 ofthe stabilizer 64 to provide the releasable attachment therebetween (seeFIG. 2). The stabilizer mount 60 may also include a plurality offastener bores 68 sized to receive the fastener 62 for securing thestabilizer mount 60 to the riser 12 at different vertical and lateralpositions relative to the symmetric and horizontal center planes P₁, P₄.

In some arrangements, the stabilizer mount 60 and stabilizer 64 may beintegrally formed as a single piece. In other arrangements, thestabilizer assembly 28 may include a stabilizer mount 60 or a stabilizer64 with multiple pieces. The stabilizer 64 may have any shape, size,weight, or configuration. In some examples, the stabilizer 64 providesdampening functions in addition to stabilizing functions. The stabilizermount 60 may be integrally formed into the riser 12, such as a threadedbore formed into the riser 12.

Positions of the stabilizer assembly 28 may be accessible from a frontor a rear facing surface of the offset riser section 27 of the riser 12.For example, the stabilizer assembly 28 may include a first stabilizermount with a first threaded bore facing in a rearward direction towardthe bowstring 26, and a second threaded bore facing in a forwarddirection wherein each threaded bore is configured to releasably mount astabilizer.

The archery bow 10 may have a plurality of different weighted centerplanes for different arrangements that are inclusive or exclusive ofaccessories such as the stabilizer assembly 28. A vertical symmetriccenter plane P₁ extends through the bowstring 26 and rotation axis Awhen no accessories are included on the archery bow 10. As noted above,the vertical weighted center plane may be aligned with the symmetriccenter plane P₁ prior to adding accessories. The vertical weightedcenter plane may shift laterally after mounting certain accessories tothe archery bow 10. A second vertical center plane P₂ is shown in FIG. 6representing a shift in the vertical weighted center plane away from thesymmetric center plane P₁. Adding the stabilizer assembly 28 secured tothe offset riser section 27 as shown in FIGS. 1-6 may create a thirdvertical weighted center plane P₃ that is closer to the originalsymmetric center plane P₁ (see FIG. 6). In some arrangements, thestabilizer assembly 28 may be sized and configured to shift the verticalweighted center line to a position between the plane P₁ and thestabilizer assembly 28.

The addition of accessories at various heights H and widths W from therotation axis A and symmetric center plane P₁ influences the amount ofunbalancing force imposed by the additional accessories. The stabilizerassembly 28 may be positioned at different locations along the offsetriser section 27 of the riser 12 at certain heights H and widths Wbesides that location shown in the figures to optimize thecounterbalancing effect available by using an offset stabilizerassembly. Further, the offset riser section 27 may be made of anysuitable configuration and provided at any suitable location.

An example method of stabilizing an archery bow in accordance with thepresent disclosure may include providing an archery bow with a riserincluding an offset section for attaching a stabilizer thereto, whereinthe stabilizer is used to stabilize the archery bow during use. Themethod may include mounting the stabilizer to the archery bow at anoffset section of the riser relative to a vertical center plane of thearchery bow. The center plane may be a vertical weighted center planewhen the archery bow is in an upright position during use.Alternatively, the center plane may be a symmetrical center planerelative to the majority of the riser. The stabilizer may be mounted toan offset riser section which is laterally offset from the verticalcenter plane. The stabilizer may be mounted to a side surface of theoffset riser portion, such as, for example, a left or right side surfaceof a riser. The stabilizer may compensate for imbalances in the archerybow imposed by various factors, including one or more accessoriesmounted to the archery bow, bow torque caused by the archer, etc.

The present disclosure relates to a number of methods involving theexample stabilizer mounts and other stabilizer related featuresdiscussed herein with reference to the attached figures. One such methodis directed to stabilizing an archery bow using a stabilizer. Thestabilizer is mounted to the archery bow on a laterally offset sectionof the riser relative to a vertical weighted center plane of the archerybow. The vertical weighted center plane is a plane that extends throughthe archery bow front to rear when the archery bow is in an uprightposition ready for use. The vertical weighted center plane divides thearchery bow into right and left halves of equal weight. The verticalweighted center plane may be determined before or after mounting atleast one accessory to the archery bow. The vertical weighted centerplane may be aligned with a vertical symmetric center plane that extendsfront to back through the archery bow and symmetrically divides the bowinto right and left halves. The stabilizer being mounted to an offsetportion of the riser eliminates the need to mount the stabilizer at anangle relative to the plane of the riser and/or to use an extra arm inmounting the stabilizer.

Another example method relates to mounting a stabilizer to an archerybow. The archery bow includes a riser, limbs, and a bowstring. Thearchery bow has a vertical symmetric center plane that divides thearchery bow into symmetric left and right halves when the archery bow isin an upright position ready for use. The method includes mounting astabilizer to an offset portion of the riser relative to the verticalsymmetric center plane. Mounting the stabilizer may include connecting astabilizer mount to the offset section of the riser, and releasablyconnecting the stabilizer to the stabilizer mount. The stabilizer mountmay include a threaded bore sized to threadably receive a threaded shaftof the stabilizer. Mounting the stabilizer may include extending thestabilizer in a forward direction away from the handle portion.

The terms recited in the claims should be given their ordinary andcustomary meaning as determined by reference to relevant entries (e.g.,definition of “plane” as a carpenter's tool would not be relevant to theuse of the term “plane” when used to refer to an airplane, etc.) indictionaries (e.g., widely used general reference dictionaries and/orrelevant technical dictionaries), commonly understood meanings by thosein the art, etc., with the understanding that the broadest meaningimparted by any one or combination of these sources should be given tothe claim terms (e.g., two or more relevant dictionary entries should becombined to provide the broadest meaning of the combination of entries,etc.) subject only to the following exceptions: (a) if a term is usedherein in a manner more expansive than its ordinary and customarymeaning, the term should be given its ordinary and customary meaningplus the additional expansive meaning, or (b) if a term has beenexplicitly defined to have a different meaning by reciting the termfollowed by the phrase “as used herein shall mean” or similar language(e.g., “herein this term means,” “as defined herein,” “for the purposesof this disclosure [the term] shall mean,” etc.). References to specificexamples, use of “i.e.,” use of the word “invention,” etc., are notmeant to invoke exception (b) or otherwise restrict the scope of therecited claim terms. Other than situations where exception (b) applies,nothing contained herein should be considered a disclaimer or disavowalof claim scope. Accordingly, the subject matter recited in the claims isnot coextensive with and should not be interpreted to be coextensivewith any particular embodiment, feature, or combination of featuresshown herein. This is true even if only a single embodiment of theparticular feature or combination of features is illustrated anddescribed herein. Thus, the appended claims should be read to be giventheir broadest interpretation in view of the prior art and the ordinarymeaning of the claim terms.

As used herein, spatial or directional terms, such as “left,” “right,”“front,” “back,” and the like, relate to the subject matter as it isshown in the drawing FIGS. However, it is to be understood that thesubject matter described herein may assume various alternativeorientations and, accordingly, such terms are not to be considered aslimiting. Furthermore, as used herein (i.e., in the claims and thespecification), articles such as “the,” “a,” and “an” may connote thesingular or plural. Also, as used herein, the word “or” when usedwithout a preceding “either” (or other similar language indicating that“or” is unequivocally meant to be exclusive—e.g., only one of x or y,etc.) shall be interpreted to be inclusive (e.g., “x or y” means one orboth x or y). Likewise, as used herein, the term “and/or” shall also beinterpreted to be inclusive (e.g., “x and/or y” means one or both x ory). In situations where “and/or” or “or” are used as a conjunction for agroup of three or more items, the group should be interpreted to includeone item alone, all of the items together, or any combination or numberof the items. Moreover, terms used in the specification and claims suchas have, having, include, and including should be construed to besynonymous with the terms comprise and comprising.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as thoseexpressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in thespecification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in allinstances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as anattempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to theclaims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claimswhich is modified by the term “approximately” should at least beconstrued in light of the number of recited significant digits and byapplying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosedherein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claimsthat recite any and all subranges or any and all individual valuessubsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should beconsidered to include and provide support for claims that recite any andall subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive ofthe minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, allsubranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with amaximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and soforth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).

1. An archery bow, comprising: a riser having an offset riser portionthe riser having a vertical center plane that divides the riser intoright and left sides when the archery bow is positioned upright andready for use; a bowstring; a stabilizer secured to the offset riserportion, the stabilizer being positioned on the riser offset from thevertical center plane.
 2. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein thevertical center plane is a weighted center plane that divides the riserinto equal weight right and left sides when the archery bow ispositioned upright.
 3. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the riserincludes a handgrip, and further comprising a stabilizer mountpositioned on the offset riser portion vertically below the handgripwhen the archery bow is positioned upright.
 4. The archery bow of claim3 wherein the stabilizer mount is connected to a side surface of theriser.
 5. The archery bow of claim 1 further comprising a cable guardsecured on one side of the riser, and the stabilizer is secured to anopposite side of the riser.
 6. The archery bow of claim 1 furthercomprising a stabilizer mount secured to the offset riser portion of theriser to which the stabilizer is mounted, and at least one accessorysupported by the riser, the stabilizer being arranged and configured toat least partially offset an imbalance in the archery bow created by theat least one accessory.
 7. An archery bow comprising: a riser having anoffset riser section; limbs extending from the riser; a bowstringextending between the limbs; a stabilizer mounted to the offset risersection and extending forward from the riser, the stabilizer beingoffset laterally from a vertical weighted centerline of the archery bowwhen the archery bow is positioned upright and ready for use.
 8. Thearchery bow of claim 7, wherein the vertical weighted centerline isaligned with a plane extending through the bowstring, limbs and riser.9. The archery bow of claim 7, wherein the riser includes left and rightside surfaces when the archery bow is positioned upright, and thestabilizer is mounted to one of the left and right side surfaces of theoffset riser section.
 10. The archery bow of claim 7, wherein the offsetriser section includes a stabilizer mounting aperture configured tomount the stabilizer to the riser.
 11. The archery bow of claim 7,further comprising a stabilizer mount connected to the riser andconfigured to support the stabilizer.
 12. An archery bow stabilizerassembly, comprising: a stabilizer mount configured for directattachment to a side surface of an offset portion of an archery bowriser, the stabilizer mount being offset from a vertical center plane ofthe archery bow riser when the archery bow riser is positioned uprightand ready for use; a stabilizer releasably mounted to the stabilizermount.
 13. The archery bow stabilizer assembly of claim 12, wherein thestabilizer is configured to offset weight imbalances in the archery bowriser.
 14. The archery bow stabilizer assembly of claim 12, wherein thestabilizer mount is configured for attachment to the archery bow riserwith a plurality of fasteners.
 15. The archery bow stabilizer assemblyof claim 12, wherein the stabilizer mount includes a threaded bore sizedto receive a threaded shank of the stabilizer.
 16. A method ofstabilizing an archery bow, comprising: providing an archery bow, havinga riser with an offset riser portion, and a stabilizer; mounting thestabilizer to the offset riser portion of the riser of the archery bowso that the stabilizer is mounted directly to the riser in a manner thatis laterally offset from a vertical weighted center plane when thearchery bow is in an upright position ready for use, the stabilizerextending in a forward direction.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising providing at least one accessory and mounting the at leastone accessory to the archery bow, the stabilizer compensating for atleast some imbalances in the archery bow imposed by the at least oneaccessory.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the archery bow includesa riser, limbs mounted to the riser, and a bowstring extending betweenthe limbs, and the vertical weighted center plane extends through theriser, limbs and bowstring.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein thearchery bow includes a riser having a handgrip, and the verticalweighted center plane extends through the handgrip.
 20. The method ofclaim 16, wherein mounting the stabilizer includes connecting thestabilizer to a right side surface or a left side surface of the archerybow when the archery bow is in an upright position ready for use.